FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Lauren Williams – CUNA Communications; (202) 626-7642; lwilliams@cuna.coop

Washington, DC (August 13, 2018) – Credit Union National Association, the nation’s largest and most influential trade association advocating on behalf of America’s 110 million credit union members, announced four new appointments to help drive credit union success.

Susan Toalson has been named Vice President and will lead fundraising for the Awareness Initiative. In her new role, Toalson will help elevate the national marketing initiative to CUNA credit unions, League partners, and valued stakeholders. Toalson most recently served as an Engagement Consultant for CUNA representing the Southeast US. Prior to joining CUNA, Toalson was Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Business Development for the University of Illinois Community Credit Union where she led the only renaming and major rebranding in the organization’s history. She holds a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College.

CUNA also announced the hiring of three Engagement Consultants who will provide specialized attention to broad and diverse stakeholders throughout various regions. Over the last two years, CUNA Engagement Consultants have worked alongside League partners to mutually serve their members through direct interaction with credit unions.

April Ales joins the engagement team with over 16 years of experience in the credit union movement. Prior to joining CUNA, Ales served as Vice-President for Membership Relations at the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU) where she managed the Cooperative Initiatives Department and the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation. As a former Member Relations Consultant, she served as a liaison to credit unions in Florida and Alabama focusing on member relations, chapter development, financial education, business development, training and the small asset size credit union programs. Ales holds bachelor’s in both Sociology and Criminology. She will serve as an Engagement Consultant for the Southeast region.

Christopher Morris joins the engagement team as a former Client Strategist at AdvantEdge Analytics, a division of CUNA Mutual Group. There he helped lead and facilitate the business and data strategy planning process for AdvantEdge, as well as for credit unions, to drive value for members. Prior to AdvantEdge at CUNA Mutual Group, Morris led communications and web resources for the National Credit Union Foundation and CUNA Councils. In all these roles, he has worked to improve people's lives through credit unions. Morris holds a bachelor’s in English Teaching/Secondary Education and is a veteran of the United States Army, including NATO peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He will serve as an Engagement consultant for the Midwest region.

Sterling Nowka joins the engagement team after spending 27 years at CUNA Mutual Group, most recently as Senior Sales Executive. As a sales representative for large credit unions, Nowka was responsible for calling on credit unions from $100 million in assets and above. He holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and holds several designations including Chartered Life Underwriter, Registered Health Underwriter, Registered Employee Benefits Consultant and Charted Financial Consultant through The American College. He will serve as an Engagement Consultant for the Northeast region.

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About CUNA 

Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions, which are owned by 110 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers unwavering advocacy, continuous professional growth and operational confidence to protect the best interests of all credit unions. For more information about CUNA, visit cuna.org.